Type-writing machine.



A. J. BRIGGS.

TYPE WRITING MACHINE.

uruonmn mun NOV. 29, 1912.

1,080,254, Patented Dec. 2, 1913.

3 SHEETSBHEET 1.

WITNESSES: NVENTUF? HISAT'TDRNEY A. J. BRIGGS.

TYPE WRITING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 29, 1912.

R B a D m m M 7 E 2 H w H Q E D m L W d m m 2 S 2 l m L s 8 0 a J 3 a P 5 A -MM mm H15 ATT [JRNEV Q n w o A. J. BRIGGS.

TYPE WRITING MACHINE.

APPLIGATION FILED NOV.29,1912.

Patented Dec. 2, 1913.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

M 1 81 y HISATTEJR'NEV WITNESSES.-

the ribbon. vibrating ARTHUR J. BRIGGS, Oil SYRACUSE, NEW Y TYPEWBITEB CQHPANY, OF SYRACUSE,

YORK.

Specification of Letters Patent.

OBK, ASSIGNOB TO THE SMITH PREKIEB NEW YORK, A CORPORATION OF NEW TYEE-WBITING MACHINE.

Patented Dec. 2, 1913.

Application filed November 29, 1812. Serial No. 734,102.

To all whom, it may concern."

Be it known. that I, ARTHU J :Bmccs, pitizen of the United States, and resident of Syracuse, in the coiinty of Onondaga and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Type- Writin Machines, of which the following is aspeci cation.

My invention relates especially to what t) is commonly termed dead key mechanism fortypewriting machines, that is, to mechanism for enabling the type controlled by said key to print without causing or permitting a letter space movement of the car- 1p; riage; and the principal object of the invention, generally stated, is to provide imroved mechanism of the character specified. To the above and other ends my inven tion consists in features of construction,

29 combinations of devices and arrangements of arts hereinafter described and particular y pointed out in the claims. I In carrying out my invention in the present instance I have applied it. to a No. 10 2@ Smith Premier typewriting'machine. In this machine toggle elements comprised in the type actions operate a curved universal bar which actuates the carriage letter-feeding or escapement devices and also actuates devices. Since t is necessary tocvibrate the ribbon to obtain a type impression it will be apparent that the problem is complicated, owing to the fact that the universal bar must be actuated by 3t} the dead ke so as to move the vibrator and yet must lie ineffective to operate the escapenient mechanism. Said escapement mechanism comprises a pivoted dog carrier or rocker which vibrates for each letter feed -lQ movement of the carriage, and I provide -means which are operative by the dead key or keys for blocking or locking this dog rocker against movement. Themeans aforesaid comprises a supplemental universal bar 1 5 additional to the main universal bar and arranged close to the same. Each type action that is controlled by a dead key is provided with a special form of toggle element having a squared end or heel instead of a rounded heel as has the usual toggle element, this squared heel being operativeon the supplemental universal bar. Said sup plemental bar when actuated, operates a ocking member or pivoted plate having a portion or extension which is thereby moved over into the ath of a rejection or pin on the dog roc er, thus e 'ectually blockin said dog rocker and lockin it against e fective movement. There is sufiicient lost motion, looseness and elasticity in the type action and connected parts, however, to permit the movement of the associate type bar to the printing point and also to actuate the ribbon vibrator to move the ribbon into the path of the actuated type. Two dead 6 Key mechanisms or sets of devices are herein shown, these being arranged at or near opposite sides of the type bar system for the reason that it isnot convenient to arrangethe supplemental universal bar for cooperation with the toggle elements near the middle of the system, owing to the lack of room due to the close and compact disposition of the parts T e present form of my invention will be explained more in detail in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein- Figure 1 is a raginentary vertical front to rear sectional view of a No. 10 Smith Premier typewriting machine embodying 30 my invention. Fig. 2 is a fragmentary transverse sectional view taken on a plane indicated by the dotted line :a-w in Fig. 1 and looking in the direction of the arrows at said line. Fig. 3 is a skeletonized view of 35 the dead key mechanism and associate parts, said view corresponding with Fig. 1 but showing the locking devices in operating position. Fig. 4 is a fragmentary perspective view showing the manner of supporting and guiding the lower portion of the supplemental universal bar.

As appears from Figs. land 2, the main frame of the machine comprises side plates 1 connected at the rear by a cross plate 2 and at the top by a top plate 3. =Above the top plate is mounted a stationary grooved track'way which cooperates through antifriction balls 5 with the slide bar 6 of the carriage, which further comprises end plates 7, said carriage providing a support for a platen 8. Cooperative with the front face of said platen are t pe bars'9 provided with type blocks each having. aising'le' type face. The type bars have fi fied pivotal supports, as 10, and each is connected through a link 11 with a ctoggle member or element 12 pivoted at 13 to a stationary support 13 and being provided with a tail piece or operating nose 14. A forwardly extending link 1:) 110 connects each toggle element 12 with one arm of a bell crank member 16, to the other arm whereof is pivotally connected the lower end of a key stem 17 which is adapted to slide up and down in a stationary guide plate 18 and is provided at its top with a finger key 19. The tail portions 14 of the toggle members are connected to restoring springs 20 and are adapted to actuate a curved universal bar, frame or member 21 which is vertically disposed and is pivotally connected at about its middle at 22 to an arm 23 rigid on a rock shaft 24. Near its ends the universal bar frame is provided with ears 25 which, are pivotally connected to supporting arms 26 rigid on a rock shaft 27. The left ha nd end of the rock shaft 24 is provided with a bend oroff-set 28 having a crank ann 29 connected through a link 30 with a crank arm (not shown) rigid on the shaft 27, the two rock shafts 24 and 27 being thus coupled and caused to turn together at all times. A restoring spring 31 is connected to the crank arm 29.

Fixedly secured to the rock shaft 27 as by a pin 32 is an upwardly extending operating arm 33, the top of which curves rearward and terminates in an operating face 34. The body portion of this operating arm is split, as indicated at 35, (Fig. 3)' and two screws or adjusting devices 36 and 37 pass through the ,rear portion 33 of said split. The screw 36 is a clamping screw, being threaded both in the portion 33 and in the other or main portion of the arm 33 While the screw 37 is a set screw, its end abutting against the rear wall of the split 35. The two screws afford means for moving the main portion of the arm 33 and varying the normal position of the operating face 34 without affecting the rock shaft 27.

It will be understood that the operating arm 33 is actuated from the universal bar 21 at each operation of one of the printing mechanisms or instrumentalities. In addition there is provided an actuator or operating arm 38 arranged alongside of the arm 27, as shown in Fig. 2. Said operating arm 38 is part of a bail or frame 39 which is loosely pivoted on the rock shaft 27 and is held from endwise movement therealong by a collar 40, the bail being confined loosely between the arm 33 and the collar 40. The right-hand end of the bail is provided with a rearward extension 39 (Fig. 1) which is connected by a link 41 with a crank arm 42, said crank arm being rigid on a rock shaft 43 operative from the usual space -bar 44 by connections comprising a crank arm 45 rigid at the forward end of the rock shaft 43 and an arm 4G. depending from said space bar This the space bar is adapted to operate an ectmtm'. viz., 38, independently of the actuator or arm 33 which is operative from the printing instrumentalities. These actuators 33 and 38 actuate escapement devices which are connected to the carriage 6, 7 through a feed rack 47 secured to the under side of the rear or slide bar 6. Constantly meshing with said rack are a pair of gear wheels 48 and 49 arranged face to face and having the usual lost motion connection; The gear wheel 48 is suitably connected with the usual carriage motor or spring drum 50, and the gear wheel 49 meshes with a inion 51 which 18 loosely mounted on a horizontal shaft 52 extending fore and aft of the machine and bearing at its ends on pivot pins 53, the rear pivot pin being supported on the spring drum casting 54 while the forward ivot pin is supported on a bracket 55 detachably secured to a plate 56 fixed on said casting. The pinion 51 is provided with crown ratchet teeth which mesh normally with corresponding teeth on a releasable clutch member 57, thus connectin the shaft 52 with the carriage and spring drum, the

clutch member being, however, releasable at will by hand devices (not shown) to free the carriage for continuous leftward movement. The construction also permits re turn movements of the carriage independently of the shaft 52. Letter feed movements of said shaft are controlled by escapement devices comprising a toothed escapement wheel 58 fixedly secured to the shaft 52 between the late 56 and the bracket 55. Said whee coiiperates with dog members 59 and60 mounted on adog block, carrier or rocker 61 which is fast on a shaft 62, said shaft bearing on pivot pins 63 adjustably secured to cars 55 integral with and depending from the bracket 55. The dog carrier or rocker is provided near its top with a pin or extension 64 extending laterally leftward and in the path of the actuator 38, as well as of the face 34 of the actuator 33, these actuators each being adapted to swing the dog block rearward on its pivotal axis 62 and cause the dogs 59 and 60 to operatively co-act with the teeth of the escapement wheel 58. A restoring spring 65 normally maintains the (log carrier in coiiperationwith an adjustable stop 66, the two actuators being at this time separated or disconnected from the said dog carrier.

The dog member 59 is in the form of a bell crank, being arranged at the rear side of the dog rocker 61 and pivoted at 67 to said rocker below the shaft or axis 62 thereof. Saiddog member 59 comprises an upright arm terminating in a stepping dog proper and a horizontally disposed arm which is donnected to a restoring spring 68. The fixed or holding dog member 60 is in the form of a plate which isadjustably Se cured by screws 69 to the front face of the dog block or rocker.

' of enga .be ed As shown in the resent instance the escapement is arranged or reverse feed, the stepping dog 59 being normally engaged with a tooth of the escapement wheel 58 and the. holding dog setto qigage with the next succeeding tooth when a; printing key is actuated. Upon such actuation, thetail 14 of the associate toggle member 12 operates the universal bar 21 and through it turns the shaft 27, swingin the actuator arm 33 rearward, the face 34 t ereging with the pin 64' to swing the dog rocker rearward on its pivot, causing the dog 59 to disengage from the escapement wheel 58 and the dog 60 to engage there- 'with, the drop between -the two dogs being such that the escapemeht wheel turns sufficiently to ermit a letter space advance movement of t e carriage on the downstroke of the key. In order to set the dogs for the ordinary feed so that the carriage will advance on the upstroke of the key, it is only necessary to unscrew the screws 69 and re-set the holding dog 60 so that it will be in substantial alinement with the yielding or stepping dog when the latter is in normal position. T e fixed dog is provided with a plurality of sets of holes for cooperation with the shanks of the screws 69 so that such resetting. may be readily eiiected. Rigidly connected with the esca'pement wheel is a ratchet wheel 70 which cooperates with a spring-pressed back pawl 71 to prevent accidenta turning of the escapement wheel during return movements of the carriage. Aslthus far described the carriage feeding devices are found in No. 10 Smith Premier tygphwritin machines now on the market.

' e rib on mechanism of the machine comprises spools 72 arranged side by side at the rear thereof below the top plate. and car 'in a ribbon 73 which is adapted to ack and forth from one spool to the other by the usual ribbon feeding mechanism (not shown herein). Said ribbon is threaded through the slots of a vibratory carrier or vibrator 74 slidably supported at the front of the platen on an upright bracket 75 secured by a screw 76 to a. lip of the top plate 3. Said vibrator is pivotally connected to a bifurcated crank arm 77 fixed to a rock shaft 78 having stationary bearings and.

provided near one end with a crank arm 79 'to which is pivotally connected the upper end of a link 80, the lower end of said link beingpivotally connected to a block 81 slidabl Y supported on anarm 82 that is rigid on an extends rearward from the off-set or' bend 28. The construction is such that the movement of the rock shaft :24 is communicated through the arm 82,11nk 80. crank arm 79, rock shaft 78 and arm 77 to the vibrator,

causing tholatter to belifted from normal position (Fig. 1) upward so as to present the printing portion of the ribbon opposite the printing point and in the path of the types as shown in Fig. 3. The block 81 is adjustable in a known manner along the arm 82 to afiford a variation in the throw of the ribbon.

As is well understood it is sometimes desi-rable to cause a type to make its imprint, without effecting a corresponding letter space movement of the carriage. An instance of this is found in writing foreign languages where accent or other marks are to be printed in connection with characters already printed. To obtain such a result in the present case it is necessary that at the actuation of the printing key controlling the accent or other special mark, the universal bar 21 shall operate or move sutiiciently to actuate the ribbon vibrator 74, as in I'ig. 3, but it is necessary also to prevent such actuation of the universal bar from causing an operation of the dog carrier 61. The printing key that is operative to obtain a' type impression without a letter space movement of the carriage is commonly called a dead key, and the mechanism which enables such result to be obtained is called dead key mechanism. Two type bars operativ by dead keys are shown in the present instance in Fig. 2, these type bars being arranged near the sides of the system of type bars and for convenience of description being designated as 9", although itwill be understood that they do not differ in construction or mounting from the other type bars of the set,

the central one whereof is shown and designated as 9. Also, for descriptive purposes the parts comprised in the trains of mecha nism which connect the dead key type bars with their associate dead keys will be given the same numbers as the corresponding parts of the ordinary type actions but with the addition of the distinguishing exponent and the lefthand dead key which is the only one herein shown will be designated as 19".

Each dead key type action is the same as the ordinary type action with the'exception of the dead key toggle member 12* which, in

stead of having a round corner a as has the regular to'gglc member 12 shown in Fig. 1,

has a squared corner, heel or extension 0".

This squared corner or extension 0" is provided for the purpose of actuating the special locking devices which cooperate with' the dog rocker ($1 to lock it against movement when the dead keys are actuated.

The special locking devices for the dog rocker comprise a supplemental universal bar. frame or member which is vertically disposed slightly to the rear of the main universal bar frame 21, as shownin Fig. 1. As best appears from Fig. 2, the supplemental universal bar frame comprises a horizontal bar 83 from which integral side or arcuate portions .84 curve upward and outward. The cur e of these side portions is concentric with the curve of the regular universal bar and said side portions are located so that they are in position to be acted on by the extensions of the toggle members 12", it being understood that the round corners r: of the regular toggle members will not be effective on the supplemental universal bar. In the present construction it was found impossible to continue the curved portions 84 downward and inward as it would interfere withv other parts of the machine, and accordingly the curved portions 84 were connected by the straight bar or portion 83 as shown. This necessitates that the dead key actions shall be at or near the sides of the machine in order that their toggle members may cooperate with the curved portions 84. The u per ends of the curved portions 84 are rigir ly connected as by rivets 85 with the ends of a cross rod 86, the body of which is elf-set toward the rear.

The frame comprising the cross rod 86 and the parts 83 and 84 is supported centrally on a vertically disposed arm 87. Said arm 87, as appears in'Figs. l and 3, is pivotally connected at its upper end at 88 to an annular bracket 89 which is secured by the screw 76 to the top plate. The arm 87 is provided with a slot 90 through which the rod 86 passes and as best shown in Fig. 4 has near its lower end a lateral car 87 to which the bar 83 is rigidly connected as by a rivet or screw 91. The lower end of the arm 87 is controlled by a guide slot or kerf 92 cut transversely in the top of a collar 93 fixed as by a pin 91 to the rock shaft 27. The construction is such that the supplemental universal bar or frame may swing to a limited extent fore and aft of the machine about the point 88 as a center but is held against lateral displacement by the guiding device or slotted collar 93.

The supplemental universal bar is adapted to operate a locking device or plate 95 which is vertically disposed in front of the bracket 55 and is provided at its upper end with cars 96 which loosely embrace the sides of the said bracket. These ears receive shouldered pivot screws 97 that engage threaded holes in the sides of the bracket and provide a pivotal support for the locking plate The lower portion of said plate is shaped to provide downward extensions or fingers 98 and 99, the longer finger 98 which is to the right being off-set or bent rearward so as to lie behind the universal bar 83 and in positionto be actuated thereby. Said finger is maintained constantly in contact with the horizontal portion 83 of said universal bar by a coiled spring 100 which is connected to the lefthand car 96 behind the associate pivot screw 97, said car being extended rearward for the purpose. The spring 100 extends downward from said ear and is anchored at its lower end to a pin 101 projecting from the side of the bracket 55. Said springt'ends constantly to swing the late 95 forward. The other extension. or ger 99 of said N plate is adapted to act as a locking device proper in cooperation with a device or pin- 102 which is fixed to the idog rocker 61 slightly above the pivotal a'xis 62 and extends horizontally forward, being cut away or notched at its forward end; to provide a horizontal surface or stop 103 for cooperation with the lower end of the finger 99. Normally said finger lies slightly forward and out of the path of the stop face 103, but when the locking plate 95 is swung-rearward on its pivots the end of the finger 9 will be moved to a position over the stop surface 103, as shown in Fig. 3, and will prevent a movement of the dog rocker sufficient to disengage the dog- 59 from the escapement wheel. a

The operation-of the dead key mechanism will be readily imderstood fromtwhat has heretofore been said and therefore only a short explanation is deemed necessary. When one of the dead keys 19 is actuated, it operates through the associate bell crank 16 and link 15 to swing the toggle member 12* on its pivot 13. At the beginning of this swinging movement the associate type bar start-s toward the platen, and also the extension 0 is brought into engagement with the curved portion 84 of the universal bar a'ndwill act at once to swing the supplemental universal bar rearward until its locking finger is brought to operative position above the stop face 1.03 as shown in Fig. 3, thus effectually blocking the escapement devices against operation. As the swinging movement of the link 12 continues its tail 14* swings rearwardii nto engagement with the main universal bar and moves said universal bar rearward, causing an actuation of the rock shaft 24 and an upward movement of the link 80, which operates as described to actuate the ribbon vibrator 74 and move the ribbon into the path of the advancing type. The operating face 34 also approaches the pin 6-l and toward the end of the key stroke engages with said pin and tends to rock the dog rocker and swing the pin 102 up and toward the rear, but since the pin 102 is held against efl'ective movement by the locking device or finger 99, the escapement will be locked. Also, the face 34 and the actuator 33 will be arrest-l, but there is sutlicient looseness and elasticity in the parts to permit the printing operation to take place and.

to avoid any abrupt stoppage of the finger key 19", such as would be felt unpleasantly by the operator. The result of the d scribed operation will be that the actuated type hart) will print, and it and the ribbon will return to normal position without a letter feed movement of the carria e takin place. The locking plate 95 will a so be restored to, normal position by the spring 100,

and acting through the, finger 98 will assist gravity in restoring the supplemental universal bar to normal position. Itwill be seen that the dead keys are each effective to actuate both main and supplemental universal bars, while the regular keys operate only the main universal bar.

in dead key dedesire to secure feeding mechanism including a universal bar operative by said instrumentalities, a ribbon vibrator connected to said universal bar, and means including a second universal bar operative by saifi 'instrumentalities for preventing operation of said letter feeding mechanism.

2. In a typewriting machine, the combination of a type'bar, key connections thereto, a ribbon vibrator, escapement mechanism, locking devices therefor, and two universal bars operative from said key connections, one of said universal bars being connected to said ribbon vibrator and escapement mechanism, and the other beihgconnected to said locking devices.

3. In a typewriting machine, the combination of a plurality of type bars, key controlled connections, one set for each type bar, and each set of connections comprising an actuating device, a i-ibbon vibrator, escapement mechanism, a lock therefor, and two universal bars one connected to said ribbon vibrator and said escapement mechanism and the other connected to said looking devices only, thefirst named universal baronly being operative by one of said actuating devices and the other actuating device operating both of said universal bars.

4. In a typewriting machine, the combination of printing instrumentalities, letter feeding mechanism including a universal bar operative by said printing instrumentalities, and a dog carrier connected to said universal bar, a ribbon vibrator connected to said universal bar, a second universal bar controlled by said instrumentalities, and a locking plate operative by said second universal bar and effective to prevent operatlon of said dog carrier.

5. In a typewriting machine, the combination of an escapement wheel, a dog cooperative therewith, a carrie for said dog. an actuator for said carrier normally disconnect: ed therefrom, a universal 'bar'connected to T said actuatpr, key controlled printing devices operative oisaid universal bar, a second universal, ba locking" devices for said carrier connected ,to said second universal bar, and other'key controlled printing devices operative on said second universal bar.

6. In a typewriting machine, the combination of an esca cment Wheel, a'dog c0- operative therewitii, a carrier for said dog, an actuator for; said carrier normally disconnected therefrom, a universal bar connected to said actuator, key controlled printing devices operative on said universal bar, a second universal bar, locking devices for said carrier connected to said second universal bar, other key controlled printing devices operative on said second universal bar, and a ribbon vibrator connected to the first named universal bar, said first named printing devices being ineffective on said second universal bar.

7. In a typewriting machine, the combination of an escapement wheel, a c06pera- .tive dog, a do carrier, an actuator for said carrier norma ly disconnected therefrom, a universal bar connected to said actuator, key controlled printing devices operative on said universal bar, a second independent actuator for said carrier, a space bar connected to said actuator, a ribbon vibrator connected to said universal bar, 'a second universal bar, locking devices for said dog car rier connected to said second universal bar, and special key controlled printing devices for operating said second universal bar.

8. In a typewriting machine, the combination of an escapement Wheel, a cooperative dog, a dog carrier, an actuator for said carrier normally disconnected therefrom, a universal bar connected to said actuator, key controlled printing devices operative on said universal bar, a second independent actuator for said carrier, a space bar connected to said actuator, a ribbon vibrator connected to said universal bar, a second universal bar, locking devices for said dog carrier connccted to said second universal bar, and special key controlled printing devices for opcrating said second universal bar, said first named printingdcvices being inoperative on said second universal bar.

9. In a typcwriting machine, the combination of an escapement wheel, a cooperativc dog, a dog carrier, an actuator for said carrier normally disconnected therefrom, a. universal bar connected to said actuator, key controlled printing devices operative on 'said universal bar, a second independent trolled printing devices for operating said second universal bar, said special devices comprising a pivoted member provided with a heel engageable with said second universal bar.

10. In a typewriting machine, the combination of an escapement wheel, a pivoted dog carrier, an actuator for said dog carrier normally disconnected therefrom, a curved universal bar connected to said act-uator, a type bar, key controlled devices connected to said type bar and operative on said universal bar, a second curved universal bar arranged in proximity to, the first, lockin devices connected to said second universal bar and operative on said dog carrier, a second type bar, and key controlled devices connected to said second type bar and comprising a pivoted member having a special Extension operative on said second universal 11. In a front-strike typewriting machine, the combination of an escapement wheel, a cooperative dog, a pivoted dog carrier, a vertically disposed curved universal bar, a ribbon vibrator connected thereto, a supplemental curved universal bar vertically arranged, a vertically disposed pivoted arm supporting said supplemental bar, a guide for the lower end of said arm, an actuator normally disconnected from said do carrier and operative from said first name universal bar, locking devices for said dog carrier connected to said second-named universal bar, and a plurality of key controlled printing devices operative on said first named universal bar, certair... of said plurality having special means for operating also said second named universal bar.

12. In a typewriting machine, the combination of a plurality of key controlled printing devices, a ribbon vibrator, escapement mechanism, locking devices therefor, and two universal bar frames, the first operative from all of said plurality of printing devices and the second operative from certain only of said plurality, the first of said universalbar frames having connections to said ribbon vibrator and also to said escapement mechanism, and the second having connections to said locking devices, said second universal bar frame comprising a vertically disposed supporting armpivo-ted near its upper end and loosely guided near its lower end and a frame disposed transversely of said supporting arm and having curved side portions.

Signed at Syracuse, in the county of On ondaga, and State of New York, this 26th day of November, A. D. 1912.

ARTHUR J. BRIGGS.

Witnesses:

' EARL S. BOYNTON,

WV. H. EBELHARE. 

